Gearing up for grade school

Items you'll need — and stuff your child will want — for the first day of school.

A backpack: Look for something durable, water-resistant, easy to open and close, and comfortable (don't saddle your grade-schooler with a backpack designed to lug high school history books, for instance). A backpack adorned with faddish characters won't age as well as a generic pack in your child's favorite color. A safety reminder: Don't put your child's name on her backpack, where every stranger can see it, but do be sure to include a name tag of some kind inside.

A lunchbox or bag: Make sure it's water-resistant, easy to open and close, and roomy enough to fit a drink, a sandwich, and small containers for fruit and other snacks. If you buy a thermos, keep in mind that wide-mouthed, insulated stainless steel bottles are a better choice than glass-lined (and breakable) models. For the youngest kids, skip thermoses that require pouring in favor of flip-top water bottles

Lunch supplies: Stock up on individual serving sizes of healthy lunch foods and snacks, such as unsweetened apple sauce, mini raisin boxes, and string cheese. Don't forget to have on hand plenty of sandwich bags, small plastic containers, and aluminum foil.

For kindergartners: If there's a daily "quiet time," find out whether you need to provide a mat, and let your child pick out a small blanket or sleeping bag and pillow. If the school allows items from home, pack your child's comfort object (provided it's portable) to help calm first day jitters, and a change of clothes for those inevitable muddy days on the playground.

A new outfit or two: New clothes make going to school an event. Don't forget to check last year's rain boots and slicker for fit, and buy new ones if you need to.

Project supplies: f your child is a kindergartner, it's a little early for homework, but your child may be asked to do a few projects during the year (with your assistance, of course), and will probably want to practice his new cutting, gluing, and coloring skills at home. Homework becomes an increasing fact of life with each higher grade, so you will probably be asked to do a few projects (with your assistance, of course). So be sure to stock up on pencils, paper, scissors, and other school supply essentials.

Though it's a little early for homework, your child may be asked to do a few projects during the year (with your assistance, of course), and he'll almost certainly want to practice his new cutting, gluing, and coloring skills at home. So be sure to stock up on pencils, paper, scissors, and other school supply essentials.

A diary or blank-book journal: Having her very own journal, plus fresh pens and pencils, will not only make your grade-schooler feel very grown up, it'll also encourage writing, drawing, and reading.

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